BRINNON — An unidentified man was found dead in his trailer Thursday afternoon after a standoff with Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies and State Patrol troopers.
Undersheriff Joe Nole said that after more than six hours of negotiation, the 58-year-old man was found deceased and his body removed from a travel trailer on Robinson Road near U.S. Highway 101.
The man had threatened to hurt himself and a single gunshot was heard from within the trailer, but because yelling had been heard from the trailer after the gunshot and the body had no obvious signs of trauma, the cause of death is unknown, Nole said. An autopsy is planned.
Nole would not release the name of the man, who had family members living in the vicinity, until next-of-kin had been notified.
The Sheriff’s Office received a report at 8:30 a.m. of a man in an 18-foot travel trailer threatening others with a gun on Robinson Road, Nole said, explaining that three people passing the trailer in a car called 9-1-1 after the man allegedly brandished a weapon at them.
Five deputies were dispatched, said Arthur Frank, chief criminal deputy.
Deputies reported that they arrived at the trailer at 9:13 a.m.
The man threatened to harm himself, Frank said. State Patrol SWAT officers were called in to negotiate.
From 12:35 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., State Patrol officers attempted to negotiate with the man, yelling back and forth, Nole said.
At 1:15 p.m., a single gunshot was heard from within the trailer.
Nole said that 15 minutes later, yelling was heard coming from the trailer. Authorities believed that confirmed the man was still alive.
A second SWAT team from Tacoma arrived after 2 p.m. and continued attempts to negotiate, he said.
The team set off two flash-bang grenades outside the trailer at 2:45 p.m., but they elicited no response.
Nole said the SWAT team sent a small robotic camera through the window of the trailer after 2:45 p.m. and the man was seen lying on the floor.
The SWAT team deployed pepper spray balls through the window but got no response, he said, so authorities entered the trailer and found the man deceased.
Nole said law enforcement officials found no obvious signs of trauma.
The man was transported by the Jefferson County Coroner to Kosec Funeral HOme in Port Townsend, according to Frank. Ambulances from Quilcene Fire Rescue and Brinnon Fire Department were on standby.
No Robinson Road residents were evacuated during the police activities, Frank said. Police did not believe the neighbors were in any danger because their homes were above and out of the way of the trailer.
The road remained closed early Thursday afternoon pending completion of the investigation by law enforcement officials.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
